on the phone

The phrase "on the phone" commonly refers to the act of speaking to someone using a telephone.

🇺🇸 US Voice:

🇬🇧 UK Voice:

Definition

A2General

(informal)Engaged in a conversation using a telephone.

Example

Can you hold on for a moment? I'm on the phone.
She was on the phone with her friend for hours.

B2British English

(dated, UK)Having a functional telephone connection in a household or location.

Example

In the 1980s, not every household was on the phone.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "on the phone":

on the telephone phone in phone up pick up the phone hold the phone telephone call phone home on the line voice call call up call in on the phone bank call on on hold contact number telephone number calling name